Blues a Persistent Foe When Down

The Ducks built two-goal leads in each of their three games against the St. Louis Blues, today’s opponent, but held on to win only once.

“You have to give credit to them,” Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg said of the Blues, who have an NHL-leading 94 points. “They are very persistent. They don’t change the way they play, whether they’re up or down. It’s a sign of a good team. They keep playing hard until you crack.”

That was certainly the case in the Ducks’ last two games against the Blues. The Ducks led, 3-1, in the second period, but lost, 6-3, on Feb. 12 at St. Louis. They also led, 2-0, in the second period Feb. 21 at Anaheim, but lost, 4-2.

“We’ve got to stay on top of our game for 60 minutes against them [today],” Hartsburg said.

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Despite a 4-3 overtime loss Wednesday to the New York Rangers, wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne aren’t ready to concede defeat in the playoff chase.

“We’ve got to get back in the saddle,” Kariya said. “We can’t give up.”

Said Selanne, “It’s a good sign that we played well. It was good we got one point [by getting to overtime]. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to forget that game and move on.”

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Goalie Guy Hebert said he has put Wednesday’s game behind him and is looking forward to facing the Blues, his former team.

“It will be fun for me,” he said. “It’s my old club, which is always a motivator. These are two really big points. We have to go in and take them out.”

TODAY

at St. Louis, Noon PST

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* Site--Kiel Center.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 28-30-10-2, Blues 43-16-8-0.

* Record vs. Blues--1-2.

* Update--Duck center Steve Rucchin’s next goal will be the 100th of his career. St. Louis shouldn’t be in a rush to record the league’s best record. Only twice in the last decade has the league’s top regular-season finisher gone on to win the Stanley Cup. The Blues lead the NHL with only 135 goals against. St. Louis has won 50 consecutive games, dating to last season, when scoring three or more goals. St. Louis defenseman Al MacInnis is two goals shy of 300.